CATS FALL AFTER LEADING BY 17

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn's Derrick Dennison played a hunch last night, and for the second straight season hit the jackpot against Kentucky.

With the game tied in the final 20 seconds, Dennison intercepted a Sean Woods pass intended for Derrick Miller.

Dennison was fouled by Woods on a resulting dunk attempt. His two free throws with 13 seconds left gave Auburn a 72-70 lead.

After Woods missed a leaner near the basket, Auburn was back at the foul line to clinch an improbable 74-70 comeback victory over UK by scoring the game's last six points.

Kentucky led by as many as 17 in the first half. The Cats seemed set to make the final half a formality, and smash the Southeastern Conference road jinx. Only five visitors had won in the 32 SEC games entering last night's play.

UK coach Rick Pitino did not blame the loss on the SEC's home-court advantage.

"It was a well-officiated game, a very good game," Pitino said. "They deserve a great deal of credit. Certainly, they played better than us. We could have won the game. It was in our grasp. We did not. They executed when it counted, and they should be proud of themselves."